Almost 40% of evangelicals more likely to vote for Roy Moore after pedophilia allegations

According to a new JMC analytics poll, Alabama evangelicals are more likely to vote for Roy Moore after allegations of his alleged sexual misconduct came to light.

The poll found that 37 percent of evangelicals surveyed say the allegations are more likely to make them vote for Moore, with 28 percent saying they are now less likely to vote for him, and 34 percent saying the allegations will make no difference in their vote.

The same poll showed Moore’s challenger, Doug Jones, to be in the lead for the first time in the race, with Jones at 46 percent and Moore and 42 percent.

This Thursday, The Washington Post broke a story revealing allegations that Moore pursued teenagers in a sexual manner when he was in his 30s. One woman claimed Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 14-years-old.

According to some critics, many evangelicals are voting out of resentment rather than morals.

For its part, the Alabama GOP, which is particularly far-right and particularly fanatical, has been emphatic that [Moore] should stay. Worse, many aren’t even denying the allegations.

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Never underestimate the depth of the evangelical martyrdom complex: In their view, Moore has taken public stands for the word of God, and now the secular world is punishing him for his righteousness. This is the fate promised to all faithful Christians. Thus, Moore’s brother compared Moore, an alleged pedophile, to Jesus Christ.

“It comes down to a question of who is more credible in the eyes of the voters — the candidate or the accuser, and I believe the judge is telling the truth,” Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, told Religion News Service.

Nevertheless, many believe the allegations will ultimately spell Moore’s undoing.

“Evangelicals are steadily losing their moral authority in the larger public square by intensifying their uncritical loyalty to Donald Trump,” professor at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology,Rev. Robert Franklin, told ABC News.

“Since this is Roy Moore and not Donald Trump, I think there may be significant disaffection with him, and increased demands for his removal from the ballot.”